Box erecting appliance



Sept. 6, 1938. H. A. INMAN BOX EREGTING APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 4,1937 4 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

W41; & 467:5 ATTORNEYS Septfi, 1938. H. A. INMAN BOX ERECTING APPLIANCE Fil-I-d Nov. 4, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

- ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1938. H. A. INMAN BOX ERECTING APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 4, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEATI'OR. Zzmaru %z's ATTORNEYS Sept. 6, 1938. H. A. INMAN BOX ERECTING APPLIANCE Filed Nov. 4, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ffar y INVENTOR. l JW %z5 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 6, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 14 Claim.

This invention relates to an appliance for erecting boxes, and for purposes of illustration it is embodied in a machine for erecting egg boxes of a certain type, although the appliance is not limited in its usefulness to the erection of such boxes and it may be used for boxes intended for holding various other articles also.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved and simplified erecting appliance.

Another object is the provision of an appliance so constructed that, in one embodiment, it has no moving parts whatever, and in another embodiment has only a relatively few and simple moving parts.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an erecting appliance so designed and constructed that an unskilled person may easily and quickly grasp the mode of operation of the appliance and may readily become proficient in 20 using the appliance to erect boxes.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an erecting appliance which is light'and compact, which is simple and inexpensive to construct, and which is sturdy and substantially foolproof in use.

To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter-more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in 30 the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan of an erecting appliance constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, with certain parts broken away for the sake of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same, viewed from the right hand end of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figs. 1 and 2, illustrating details;

Fig. 5 is a side viewof a collapsed box or carton of the type intended to be opened or erected by the present appliance;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the same in its collapsed condition;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially longitudinally through the box or carton in its erected position, the box being shown upside down;

' Fig. 8 is an end view of the erected box;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to a fragment of the left hand end of Fig. 2, illustrating the collapsed box or carton in the initial stage of its application to the erecting appliance;

Fig. 11 is a. plan of the appliance and box in v the same stage shown in Fig. 10. the box being shown in horizontal section with the upper part thereof removed;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing a still later stage in the erection of the box;

Fig. 13 is a plan of the appliance and box at the stage shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is an end view of the appliance and box at the same stage shown in Figs. 12 and 13;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14, showing the next following step or stage in the erection of the carton, and

Fig. 16 is a section substantially on the line lS-l 6 of Fig. 1, illustrating certain guiding posts in elevation.

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the appliance in its preferred form comprises a base plate 20 having at opposite ends ears 2i through which screws 22 may extend to fasten the base plate to any suitable table or other support 23. The appliance is placed on the table so that the front edge of the appliance slightly overhangs the front edge of the table or projects frontwardly therefrom, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

On this base plate, which may be made of cast metal such as cast aluminum or an aluminum alloy, are integrally formed various upstanding members. These include a rear guide 30, a spreading anvil 3i, and center partition guides 32, 33, 34. and 35. The anvil 3| has a lower portion 40 of somewhat trapezoidal horizontal cross sectional shape, and above this lower portion 40 it is tapered upwardly to have an upper portion of somewhat wedge shape having upwardly converging wedging sides 4|.

Adjacent the upstanding partition guide 32 is a supplementary guide 45, best shown in Fig. .4, having a shank 46 slidable horizontally in a hole in the base 20 and retained in any desired position by means such as a set-screw 41. The upper portions of the members 32 andv l5 flare away from each other (Fig. 4) but the lower portions of these members define between them a slot which has little or no taper. The position of the member 45 is so adjusted that the width of this slot is about one and one-half times the thickness of the central partition H0 of the carton to be erected, which central partition is intended to be received in this slot as shown in Fig. 4.

A similar supplementary guide 49 is employed in conjunction with the upstanding partition guide 34, and is mounted and adjusted'in the same manner as the guide 45. A similar supplementary guide may be employed in conjunction with the guide 33, or may be omitted, as preferred.

The partition guides may be in the form of posts integral with and upstanding from the base 20, arranged in pairs with a small space between them (Figs. 1 and 16) to receive the longitudinal partition of the box to be erected. The space between the two posts of one pair may be one and onehalf to two times the thickness of the partition to be received therein, and the space is widened or flared at the tops of theposts, .so the partition may enter more easily.

The appliance also includes an abutment 5i projecting forwardly from the base adjacent the spreading anvil SI, and having an inclined working face 52 at a slight inclmation to a vertical plane, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 9. This inclined face 52 is to contact with one edge of the carton, in the manner described below.

A portion of the top surface of the base plate 20, extending from the spreading anvil 3| rightwardly approximately to the partition guide 32, and from a point a little to the rear of the central partition of the carton to be erected, forwardly to the front edge of the base plate 20, is preferabLv recessed or depressed to lie at a somewhat lower elevation than that of the top of the main flat part of the base plate 20, rightwardly of the guide member 32. Thus when the carton is positioned on the appliance, the lower edge of that part of the central partition to the left of the members 32 and 5 will not rest upon or rub against the top surface of the base 2|, when the rest of the partition is in contact with the base.

The appliance further includes, to the rear of the position occupied by the carton, an upstand-. ing member ill having a forwardly projecting lug provided with a rightwardly facing abutment surface 6i, near the left hand end of the carton, and another upstanding member 62 having a lug providing a leftwardly facing abutment surface 63 near the right hand end of the carton.

These parts 2| to 82, inclusive, briefly described above, constitute a complete and satisfactory erecting appliance according to one embodiment of the invention, and such an appliance may be 7 standing brackets and 12 providing, at their upper ends, journals orbearings in which a substanfially horizontal shaft It is mounted for oscillation. This shaft has fixed toit warm 12 connected to one end of the spring ll, the other end of which is connected to the baseplate 2|. The spring thus tends constantly to oscillate the shaft I in one direction, this being in a clockwise direction when viewed as in Figs. 3 and 14. Another arml2securedtothesbaftl6isconnectedto any suitable operating mechanism, such as thc'cord,

chain, or other flexible element 83 extending downwardly through a hole 84 in the base 20 and the table 23, and connected to a suitable pedal, treadle, or other convenient operating member. When the flexible element 831s pulled downwardly, it oscillates the shaft 15 in a counterclockwise direction when viewed as in Figs. 3 and 14, against the tension of the spring 2..

The shaft 15 has secured to it one or more forwardly and upwardly extending arms of generally U-shaped construction, as shown in Fig. 3, two such arms being indicated at B6 and 81 in the embodiment here illustrated. These arms extend to a position such that, when the shaft 16 is oscillated by a pull on the member 83, the forward ends of the arms, or a suitable member or members connected to these arms, will come downwardly upon the top of the box or carton positioned on the appliance (really down upon the bottom of the carton, since the carton is placed upside down upon the appliance) and will depress this carton top (really the bottom) along its center line to perform one of the final stages in the full erection of the carton.

A number of separate arms may be secured to the shaft 16 so that the free ends of the arms contact with the carton at a number of closely spaced points, if desired; or a comparatively few such arms (such as the two arms 88 and 81 here illustrated) may be employed and may carry one or more longitudinally extending members to contact with the carton either continuously throughout all or most of its length, or at a plurality of spaced points, as desired. In theformhereshown, bars or strips 9| and 92, approximately parallel to and slightly spaced from each other, are mounted on the ends of the arms 86 and '1, so that these bars will come down on the top of the carton, the upper edge of the central partition being received in the space between the members If and 92, and these members GI and 92 will depress the top (really the bottom) of the carton along its center line, throughout substantially the entire length thereof; When the parts H to 92, inclusive, are omitted, as in the first embodiment above described, then the same depressing function accomplished by these parts is done by hand, with the human fingers.

In order to aid in understanding the function of the various parts of the appliance above described, it will be advisable now to describe the construction of the type of box or carton which is intended to be erected with the aid of this appliance. This box or carton in the form illustrated by way of example in the present drawings, is a carton having twelve separate article holding compartments, each intended to hold a single fragile article such as anegg, so that the entire carton may hold one dozen eggs or other fragile articles.

The erected carton shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is in an upside down or inverted position, this being the position in which it is taken off of the erecting appliance.

. the front wall I II and to be interlocked with webs at the upper corners of the transverse partitions.

The carton also comprises a series of transverse partitions l'llB, preferably seven in number, two of them being approximately at the ends of the Gil the box and the others being intermediate partitions dividing the length of the box into six compartments. A central partition IIO divides each of these six compartments into two compartments in a direction across the width of the box, thus making twelve compartmentsin all in what may be termed a 2 x 6 construction.

Th parts ill to I03, inclusive, may all be formed from a single integral piece of sheet material, such as carton stock, suitably cut, scored. and folded. The central partition IIO may be formed of a separate piece of such sheet material. When the box is erected, a series of hooked tabs II2 on the central longitudinal partition Ill extend through suitably arranged openings II3 formed along the center line of the bottom of the box, and interlocked with the edges of such openings II3, as shown in Fig. '7, in order to hold the bottom in its intended position and to support the center thereof at an elevation above the side edges, to maintain the portions I03 and I04 at an inclination, as shown. The downward pull of the bottom upon the hooked tabs of the central partition H is resisted by reason of the fact that the partition I I0 extends over and is supported by the cross partitions I08. which in turn are secured at their ends to, and supported by, the front and back walls IM and I02 of the box. The central partition H0 is notched upwardly. from its bottom to receive the lower portions of the cross partitions I03, while the cross partitions are notched downwardly from their top edges to re-- ceive the upper un-notched part of the central partition IIO. Interlocking lugs H on the central partition extend through holes in adjacent cross partitions to retain the central partition against accidental removal from the cross partitions before the box has been erected.

If desired, means may be provided for locking provided, at the left end of the right hand slot II3,with portions I3I and I32 (Figs. 5, 7, l2, and 13) hinged to each other along the center line of the bottom and hinged to the bottom sections I03 and I04 along the respective hinge lines I33 and I34 approximately parallel to and spaced on opposite sides of the center line of the bottom. The

portions I3I and I32 are free to move upwardly and downwardly to a limited extent. relatively to the main bottom sections I03 and I04, about the hinge lines I33 and I34, since these portions are completely severed from the main bottom sections, except at the hinge lines, by cuts or slits I33 and I39. When the carton is in normal erected position, the portions I3I and. I32 lie just to the left of and substantially in contact with the edge I23 of the central longitudinal partition IIO, as shown in Fig. 7, preventing the partition from moving leftwardly with relation to the carton bottom and side walls, and thus preventing the tabs ill from being accidentally-disengaged from the slots H3. The manner in which the parts assume this locking position will be described below when describing the erection of the carton.

In the initial "collapsed form in which the box is shipped from the manufacturing plant to the place where it is to be used, the bottom walls I03 and I04 are folded substantially against one another as shown in Fig. 6,- and extend downwardly from the front and rear walls to the center line of the bottom, instead of upwardly to the center line as they do when erected in the position shown in Fig. 8. ('I'hwe terms downwardly and "upwardly" are used in the preceding sentence with reference to the upright normal position of the box, rather than with reference to its inverted or upside down position shown in Figs. 5 to 8). In this collapsed position, each transverse partition I00 is folded upon itself along a line formed approximately by the intersection of each such transverse partition with the plane of the longitudinal partition, so that the transverse partitions are all doubled upon themselves and the front and rear walls I0 I and I02 of the box are brought relatively close to each other, occupying only a relatively thin space, as shown in Fig. 6. The longitudinal partition H0 is displaced longitudinally to a substantial extent, as shown in Fig. 5, and projects beyond the side walls of the body at one end.

In erecting a box or carton of this kind with this erecting appliance, the collapsed carton in the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is grasped by an operator standing or sitting immediately in front of the appliance.- The operator places the-collapsed carton in an upside down position as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and with the cover flap I05 on the side of the carton closest to the operator. This cover flap I05 is then placed substantially against the front edge of the base plate of the appliance, and the left hand edge of this cover flap is brought against the stop III, the whole carton being slightly tilted so that this left hand edge is approximately at the inclination of the inclined surface 52 on the stop 5|. This initial position of the parts is shown .in Fig. 9.

'I'heoperator then moves the upper left hand corner of the collapsed carton slightly away from him or in a rearward direction with respect to the erecting appliance, to position the slight space between the walls ml and I02 of the carton directly over the spreading anvil 3|. The carton is then moved downwardly, holding it still at the inclination shown in Fig. 9, so that the walls IM and I02 pass down on opposite sides of the spreading anvil 3|, the wall I02 being to the front of this spreading anvil and the wall IOI behind it. The wedging action of the spreading anvil opens up the space between these walls and causes them to spread somewhat away from each other at their left hand ends.

In the initial downward movement of the carton, it is kept at substantially the same initial inclination as shown in Fig. 9, the left hand edge of the cover flap I05 and wall I02 riding down the inclined surface 52. When the left hand corner of the wall IOI finally strikes the top surface of the base plate 20, in the space between the anvil 3| and the guide 30, the downward movement of the left hand end of the carton is completed. The operator now moves the right hand and of the carton downwardly, gradually swinging it down until the carton is in a horizontal position instead of the initial inclined position shown in Fig. 9. This motion of swinging down the right hand end will, with a little care on the part of the operator, bring the central partition down just in front of the guides 32, 33, and 34, and.

just to the rear of the guides 45 and 49, and into the spaces between the pairs of guides 35, so that the central. partition will be held in the slots formed between the members 32 and 4 5 and between the members 34 and 40 and between the pairs of members 35. The wall IOI will come down to the rear of these guides 32, 33, 34, and

35, since the initial spreading of the walls by the anvil 3| will be sufficient to open the walls far enough so that the wall IIII will move down to the rear of the member 32, and the inclined rear edge of the member 32 will further force or cam the wall IOI rearwardiy so that it will come down to the rear of the members 33, 34, and 35, this action being assisted by the inclined rear edges of the members 33 and 34.

When the carton has been moved fully downwardly and seated horizontally upon the appliance, it will be in the position illustrated in Figs. 10 and'll. The members 32 and 45 each embrace the central partition I I immediately to the right of the second transverse partition I03 from the left end of the carton, as shown in Fig. 11. The member 33 will contact with the central partition IIO a little to the right of the fourth transverse partition from the left, the members 34 and 43 will embrace the central partition IIO a little to the right of the extreme right hand transverse partition, and the posts 35 will embrace the partition at other points along its length, as shown. The

members 33, 34, 35, and 43 are all placed somewhat to the right of the points of intersection of their respective or adjacent cross partitions I03 with the longitudinal partition IIO, so that if it is attempted to pull the partition I I0 rightwardly.

his right hand, and pulls rightwa'rdly thereon.

This rightward pull will tend to shift the entire carton to the right. But the central partition IIO cannot move to the right, because the central partition cannot move longitudinally with relation to the transverse partitions, and the second transverse partition from the left is firmly held against rightward movement by the members 32 and 45. Consequently, the rightward pull exerted by the operator upon the carton body will have the eflect of moving the walls IOI, I02, I03, I04,'and I to the right, while maintaining the central partition H0 in stationary position. This movelnent of the walls relative to the central partition will cause the transverse partitions I03 all to swing about-their intersections with the central partition as pivot points or oscillatory axes, and as the transverse partitions swing their swinging action will automatically spread the walls IN and I02 apart to their full spread condition. The rightward pulling on the walls I03 and I04 is continued until the transverse partitions are completely unfolded to a flat or plane condition, and is further continued a little beyond this point, until of the wall III comes into contact with the abutment surface 53, and this stops further rightward movement and indicates to the operator that additional rightwardmovement is unnecessary.

Then, while the operators right hand still holds the parts I03 and I04 near their right hand edges, his left hand is used to catch the left hand edge of the wall I0| behind the abutment surface 3I, if necessary, although frequently this left hand edge of the wall will itself spring behind the abutment surface when it reaches it, without needing much if any assistance from the operator. The operator then releases the grip of his right hand on the parts I03 and I04, and the resilience of the transverse partitions II 0 holds the left hand edge of the box blank against the left hand abutment surface 5|, the parts now being in the position shown in Figs, 12 and 13. In this position, the walls IOI, I02, I03, and I04 are a little to the right of their normal erected position with respect to the central partition H0, and the hook tabs 2 on the central partition are alined with the slots I I3, as shown in Fig. 12, and the bottom sections I03 and I04 of the box (forming the top of the box in this inverted position) extend upwardly from the side edges of the box to the center line thereof, as shown in Fig. 14.

In using the first described embodiment of erecting appliance, in which no moving parts are employed,the operator now places his fingers upon the top of the inverted box (really the bottom of the box) and pushes downwardly thereon along the center line thereof, to depress these parts from the position shown in Figs. 12 and 14; to the position shown in Fig. 15, so that the material immediately around the slots 3 will be moved downwardly into a position surrounding the upstanding hook tabs II2 of the central partition. I I0. During this downward movement of the bottom sections I03 and I04, the portions I3I and I32 will be just to the left of the edge I2I and abovethe edge I22. As downward movement continues, the portions I3I and I32, approximately wherethey are hingedly connected to each other, will contact with the edge I22, which will prevent further downward movement of this hinge connection, although the main bottom sections I03 and I04 'will move further downwardly and carry the hinge lines I 33 and I34 downwardly, leaving the portions I31 and I32 sloping upwardly from the hinge lines I33 and I34 to the'center line, while the main bottom sections I03 and I 04 will slope downwardly (in this inverted position) from their side edges to the center line.

Then the operator pulls the left end of the box forwardly or toward himself, releasing the upper rear corner thereof from the abutment surface 0| whereupon the resilience of the transverse partitions I03 will immediately tend to swing the walls of the box leftwardly with relation to the central partition IIO, which will cause the sheet material at the right hand edges of the slots I I3 to engage with the locking notches of the hook tabs II 2, as shown in Fig. '7. Such engagement will prevent further leftward movement of' the box walls relative to the central partition, and the tension or resiliency of the transverse partitions will hold the parts firmly engaged. This leftward movement of the box walls will move the portions I3I and I32 leftwardly oil of the edge I22, and these portions will then snap downwardly, or may be shoved downwardly by the operator's finger, to bring the portion I3I into the same plane with the rest of the bottom section I03 and the portion I32 into the same plane with the rest of the bottom section I04. The portions I3I and I32 will then lie just to the left of the edge I23, and will act as a look, as above explained, to prevent presses downwardly upon the locking parts I 3i,-

rightward movement of the bottom sections with relation to the partition I I0, and thus to prevent the hooked tabs from being disengaged from the bottom.

The erection of the box is now completed, and it may be removed from the erecting appliance by lifting it'straight up vertically, to-pull the central partitionv I I out from between the mem-- here 32 and 45 and the members 34 and 40 and the pairs of posts 3!.

If the operator is using the, second described embodiment of erecting apparatus, in which the moving parts It, 82, 01, 3], etc., are employed, then the operation is the same as that above described down to and including the tensioning or swinging of the transverse partitions and the hold the partition to one side or the other of catching of the. upper left rear corner of the box on the abutment shoulder 3|. Then, instead of pressing downwardly with his fingers along the center line of the walls now forming the top of the box, the operator merely depresses his pedal, treadle, or other operating mechanism connected to the element 03, and this swings the arms 31 leftwardiy and downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 15. The ends of the arms 31, or the lower edges of the members 9i and 92 attached to these arms, press downwardly along the center line of the box, depressing the top I03, I04 of the box from the upper position shown in Fig. 14 to the lower position shown in Fig. 15, in substantially the same way as is done by the hand of the operator in the previously described embodiment. Then, while maintaining the parts I03, I04 in this depressed position, the operator releases the upper left rear corner of the box from the abutment shoulder Si, by pulling this corner forwardly, and the tension or resilience of the transverse partitions moves the body leftwardly relative to the central partition, interlocking the hooks on the tabs .II2 with the parts I03, I04 just as in the previous case. The operatorthen I32, if necessary, to make the lockeiiective, and removes the carton from the erecting appliance.

It should be noted that when a pull is exerted on the longitudinal partition IIO, this erecting appliance does not thrust against each transverse partition, but only against the second one from tudinal partition rightwardly, which rightward movement is resisted only by the second cross partition from the left end, all of the other cross partitions being out of contact with the members 33, 34, and 35, as explained.

That part of the central longitudinal partition I I0 which is to the left of the second cross partitlon anchored by the members 32 and 45, will be subjected to compression caused by the resistance which the first transverse partition from the left offers to the effort to straighten it. The degree of compression produced by this single partition is relatively small, however, and is adequately resisted by the compressive strength "of this short section of the longitudinal partition,

.Becauseof the relieved or depressed portion 55 ofthe base 20, the part of the longitudinal partition 0 which is betweenthe first and second cross partitions from the left andis subject to compression stress, will be slightly spaced from the bed plate 20. This avoids theproduction of friction between the partition and the bed plate which might, under some circumstances.

its true alinement and prevent it from assuming its true straight position, with the result that it would buckle more easily when it was subjected to compressive, stress when the transverse partitions were straightened out. But by -.relieving the bed plate at 55, such detrimental friction is avoided, leaving the left hand end of the central partition free to swing, without frictional restraint, to its true straight position, where it can best resist the slight compressive stress induced in this left hand end of the longitudinal partition by the left or first transverse partition.

Those sides of the members 32 and 45 which are toward the central partition IIO are approximately fiat throughout the major portion of their height, and make sharp corners with those sides which are toward the cross partition with which they engage, thus thrusting against the cross partition at points close to the central partition and avoiding any. danger of bending the cross partition and pulling it partly through the space between the members 32 and 45, when the central partition is tensioned.

By the use of the above described appliance in either of its two forms, collapsed boxes or cartons of the type here disclosed may be erected easily and with great rapidity, by relatively unskilled workers. The erecting appliance is not limited in its usefulness to cartons of this exact type, but may be employed also with various other cartons or boxes of the same general nature.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, his to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is. therefore not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An appliance for erecting a collapsed box of the type including walls, a series of transverse partitions deformed from their final erected shape while the box is collapsed, and a longitudinal partition intersecting said transverse partitions and requiring to be moved longitudinally with respect to said walls when the box is to be erected, said appliance comprising a base, means mounted on said base for holding said longitudinal partition against longitudinal movement without obstructing movement of said walls in a direction longitudinally of said longitudinal partition, and other means mounted on said base for restraining said ,walls against longitudinal movement in'a reverse direction after they have been moved longitudinally in one direction with respect to said longitudinal partition.

2. An appliance for erecting a collapsed box of the type including walls, a longitudinal partition separate from said walls, a series 01' transverse partitions connected at their ends to said walls and intersecting said longitudinal partition and doubled back upon themselves about their lines of intersection with their longitudinal partition so as to lie approximately against opposite sides of said longitudinal partition while the box is collapsed, said longitudinal partition requiring to be moved longitudinally with respect to said walls when the box is to be erected so as to swing said transverse partitions to approximately straight positions at approximately right angles to said longitudinal partition, said appliance comprising a base, upstanding means mounted on said base for cooperating with a collapsed box placed in inverted position on said base to hold said longitudinal partition against longitudinal movement in one direction, so that when said walls are moved in said one direction, the ends of said transverse partitions will be moved relatively to said longitudinal partition to swing said transverse partitions outwardly to straighten them and to spread said walls to erected position, said appliance having suflicient free space above said base to permit said swinging movement of said transverse partitions and spreading of said walls, and abutment means mounted on said base for limiting the extent of movement of said walls in said one direction.

3. An appliance for erecting a collapsed box or the type including walls, a series of transverse partitions deformed from their flnal erected shape while the box is collapsed, and a longitudinal partition intersecting said transverse partitions and requiring to be moved longitudinally with respect to said walls when the box is to be erected. said appliance comprising a base, means mounted on said base for holding said longitudinal partition against longitudinal movement in one direction while said walls are moved in said one direction, abutment means mounted on said base for limiting the extent oi! movement of said walls in said one direction, and other abutment means mounted on said base for restraining said walls against movement in a reverse direction after they have been moved substantially to the limit of their motion in said one direction.

4. An appliance for erecting a collapsed box or the type including walls, a longitudinal partition separate from said walls, a series of transverse partitions intersecting said longitudinal partition and doubled back upon themselves about their lines of intersection with said longitudinal partition so as to lie approximately against opposite sides of said longitudinal partition while the box is collapsed, said longitudinal partition requiring to be moved longitudinally with respect tosaidwallswhentheboxistobeerectedso as to swing said transverse partitions to approximately straight positions at approximately right angles to said longitudinal partition, said appliance comprising a base, tapered means rising from said base for partially spreading the collapsed walls or the box when a collapsed box is thrust downwardly over said tapered means, and means extending upwardly from said base for engaging one of said transverse partitions adjacent its intersection with said longitudinal partition to hold said longitudinal partition against longitudinal movement in one direction, so that said walls may be moved in said direction with respect to said longitudinal partition and such to movement will swing the ends of said transverse partitions outwardly away irom said longitudinal partition to straighten said transverse partitions and spread said walls, said appliance having suificient free space above said base and around I said tapered means and said partition engaging means to permit said swinging movement of said partitions and spreading of said walls.

5. An appliance for erecting a collapsed box of the type including walls, a series of transverse partitions deformed from their final erected shape while the box is collapsed, and a longitudinal partition intersecting said transverse partitions and requiring to be moved longitudinally with respect to said walls when the box is to be erected, said appliance comprising tapered means for partially spreading the collapsed walls of the box when a collapsed box is thrust downwardly over said tapered means, and means for embracing opposite sides of said longitudinal partition at two spaced points without obstructing swinging movement of said transverse partitions about their intersections with said longitudinal partition from collapsed position to erected position, one or said embracing means engaging one of said transverse partitions to hold said longitudinal partition agalnst-longitudinal movement in one direction when said walls are moved in said direction with respect to said longitudinal partition to swing said transverse partitions.

6. An appliance for erecting a collapsed box of the type including wa11s, a series oi. transverse partitions deformed from their final erected shape while the box is collaps d. and a longitudinal partition intersecting said transverse partitions and requiring to be moved longitudinally with respect to said walls when the box is to be erected, said appliance comprising tapered means for partially spreading the collapsed walls of the box when a collapsed box is thrust downwardly over said tapered means, means for embracing opposite sides of said longitudinal partition at two spaced points without obstructing swinging movement of said transverse partitions about their intersections with said longitudinal partition from collapsed position to erected position, one of said embracing means engaging one of said transverse partitions to hold said longitudinal partition against longitudinal movement in one direction when said walls are moved in said direction with respect to said longitudinal partition to swing said transverse partitions, and

means for engaging one of said walls to restrain said walls against-movement in a reverse direction after-they have been moved in said one direction to a predetermined position.

7. An appliance for erecting a collapmd box oi the type including side walls, a series oi transverse partitions deformed irom their final erected shape while the box is.collapsed, and a longitudinal partition intersecting said transverse partitions and requiring to be moved longitudinally with respect to said walls when the box is to be erected, said side walls being relatively close together when the box is collapsed and requiring to be moved laterally away from each other in erecting the box, said appliance comprising tapered means ior partially spreading the collapsed walls oi the box when a collapsed box is thrust downwardly over said tapered means, and inclined guiding means for sliding contact with one end of the box while the collapsed box is being thrust downwardly, to aid in positioning the box at the proper inclination for effective cooperation with said tapered means.

8. An applianceiorerectingacollapsedbox of the type including walls, a series of transverse effective cooperation with said tapered means,

and means near one end of said longitudinal partition for closely embracing said longitudinal partition immediately adjacent the intersection of one of said transverse partitions therewith to hold said transverse partition against movement in a direction lengthwise of said longitudinal partition and thus to hold said longitudinal partition against longitudinal movement in a direction from said embracing means toward the opposite edge of said longitudinal partition, said appliance being so shaped as to allow iree movement of said walls in said direction through a limited range.

9. An appliance for erecting a collapsed box of the type including walls, a longitudinal partition, and a plurality of transverse partitions secured to said walls and intersecting said longitudinal partition and requiring to be swung with relation to said longitudinal partition, by producing relative longitudinal movement between said walls and said longitudinal partition, to erect the collapsed box, said appliance comprising means for closely embracing said longitudinal partition alongside one of said transverse partitions near one end of said longitudinal partition to hold said longitudinal partition against longitudinal movement in a direction from said embracing means toward the remote end of said longitudinal partition, said appliance being so constructed that said longitudinal partition is free of restraint against movement in said direction at any other point of its length, so that the reaction of said transverse partitions against said longitudinal partition, when said walls are moved in said direction with respect to said longitudinal partition, will produce tension stress in that part oi said longitudinal partition between said engaging means and the remote end of the partition. 7

10. An appliance for erecting a collapsed box of the type including walls, a longitudinal partition, and a plurality of transverse partitions secured to said walls and requiring to be swung with relation to said longitudinal partition, by producing relative longitudinal movement between said walls and said longitudinal partition,

to erect the collapsed box, said appliance comprising means for engaging said longitudinal rection at any other point of its length, so that the reaction of said transverse partitions against said longitudinal partition, when said walls are moved in said direction with respect to said longitudinal partition, will produce tension stress in that part of said longitudinal partition between said engaging means and the remote end oi the partition, and abutment means for contact with an edge of. said walls-at that end of said box nearest to said partition engaging means, to tend to hold said walls against reverse movement after they have been moved in said direction with respect to said longitudinal partition.-

11. An appliance for erecting a collapsed box oi the type including walls, a longitudinal partition', and a plurality of transverse partitions secured to said walls and requiring to be swung with relation to said longitudinal partition, by producing relative longitudinal movement between said walls and said longitudinal partition, to erect the collapsed box, said appliance comprising means i'or engaging said'longitudinal partition and also one of said transverse partitions near one end of said longitudinal partition to hold said longitudinal partition against longitudinal movement in a direction from said engaging means toward the remote end of said longitudinal partition, said appliance being so constructed that said longitudinal partition is free of restraint against movement in said'direction at any other point of its length, so that the reaction oi said transverse partitions against said longitudinal partition, when said walls are moved in said direction with respect to said longitudinal partition, will produce tension stress in that part of said longitudinal partition between said engaging means and the remote end 01 the partition, abutment means for contact with an edge of said walls at that end of said box farthest from said partition engaging means, to limit the permissible extent of movement of said walls in said direction with respect to said longitudinal partition, and abutment means for contact with an edge of said walls at that end of said box nearest to said partition engaging means, to tend to hold said walls against reverse movement after they have been moved in said direction with respect to said longitudinal partition.

12. An appliance for erecting a collapsed box of the type including walls, a longitudinal partition separate from said walls, and a plurality of transverse partitions secured to said walls and intersecting said longitudinal partition and requiring to be swung with relation to said longitudinal partition, by producing relative longitudinal movement between said walls and said longitudinal partition, to erect the collapsed box, said appliance comprising means for engaging one of said transverse partitions near one end of said longitudinal partition at points on opposite sides of and close to said longitudinal partition to hold said longitudinal partition against longitudinal movement in a direction from said engaging means toward the remote end of said longitudinal partition, said appliance being so constructed that said longitudinal partition is free of restraint against movement in said direction at any other point of itslength, so that the reaction of said transverse partitions against saidlongitudinal partition, when said walls are moved in said direction with respect to said longitudinal partition, will produce tension stress in that part of said longitudinal partition between said engaging means and the remote end oi the partition, and movable means for bearing downwardly upon the upper part of a box engaged with said partition engaging means, to press upon and thereby alter the shape of said upper W of the type including walls, a longitudinal partition separate from said walls, anda plurality of transverse partitions secured to said walls and intersecting said longitudinal partition and requiring to be swung with relation to said longitudinal partition, by producing relative longitudinal movement between said walls andsaid longitudinal partition, to erect the collapsed box, said appliance comprising means for engaging one of said transverse partitions near one end of said longitudinal partition at points on opposite sides of and close to said longitudinal partition to hold said longitudinal partition against longitudinal movement in a direction from said engaging means toward the remote end 01' said longitudinal partition, said appliance being so constructed that said longitudinal partition is free of restraint against movement in-said direction at any other point of its length, so that the reactionot saidtransverse partitions against said longitudinal partition, when said walls are moved in said direction with respect to said 1ongltudinal partition, will produce tension stress in that part of said longitudinal partition between said engaging means andthe remoteend of the partition, a plurality of arms mounted for oscillation about an axis to one side oif and approximately parallel to said longitudinal partition,

and means for swinging said arms about said axis 

